Futility of Secular Accomplishment

1:12 I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.45

1:13 I decided46 to carefully47 and thoroughly examine48

all that has been accomplished on earth.49

I concluded:50 God has given people51 a burdensome task52

that keeps them53 occupied.54

1:14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man55 on earth,56

and I concluded: Everything57 he has accomplished58 is futile59—like chasing the wind!60

1:15 What is bent61 cannot be straightened,62

and what is missing63 cannot be supplied.64